Hanoi : Part 4 - Halong Bay

16052015 - I was in Hanoi for a week for work. On a Saturday, after the work week ends, my colleagues and I treated ourselves to a one-day trip to Halong Bay. I wished to stay overnight but I am flying back on a Sunday. That morning, the tour agent (we purchased ticket from Sinh Travel Cafe the day before for USD33 inclusive of a kayaking activity costing USD5) picked us up at 830am. After picking up all the passengers, we officially left Hanoi Town at 9am. It takes 3.5 hours to get there! In the bus, the tour guide explained to us the history of Hanoi and Halong Bay. I am happy to be able to go to Halong Bay because this is a UNESCO area! I am all for going to any UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just one sentence that describes Halong Bay - it is an area with 2000 islets which are mostly limestones.

We reached the tourist wharf at 1.30pm. There, we were given our boat tickets which is stated VND170,000 (USD8) which makes me wonder what is the balance of USD20 for. The bus ride and the lunch - 8 course meal, I figure. We were provided lunch on the boat, and I was the one who did the eating because my Muslim colleagues were not sure if it's halal although it is vegetarian and seafood as the type of oil used is a question.

 

 

We were only allowed 1 stop based on the ticket. And it is Hang Dau Go Cave. Look at the line of tourists! It was congested inside the Cave. I like the landscape of the flowers along the pathway towards the cave and out from the cave.

 

 

 

 

The next activity is kayaking in a floating fishing village. Initially, we took the kayak activity but because we are afraid of getting wet, we decided to go on the bamboo boat. We go under the limestones and go out to see more limestones. It was a short boat ride.

Back to the boat we go! It was 5pm. It was then 3.5 hours bus ride back to Hanoi Town. I was happy.
 

This is me. I found the local hat on the boat. Do I look like a Vietnamese? A few of the locals spoke to me in Vietnamese. Vietnamese does look like a Chinese and all Chinese worldwide looks similar. Unless you are from Tibet - they have very distinctive features.